Winding apparatus



Nov. 15, 1966 J. R. FROST 3,284,907

WINDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1s, 1965 FIG! INVENTOR JOHN R. F ROST MM MLAORNEYS United States Patent spasso? WENDEIQG APPARATUS John R. Frost, Midland, Mich., assigner to The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., a corporation of Delaware v Filed Feb. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 433,732 2 Claims. (Cl. 33-136) This invention relates to winding machines and more particularly to filament winding apparatus having irnproved length, counter and winding indicating mechanisms.

In the winding of filaments for use in the preparation of a warp, the length of the filaments employed needs to be carefully ascertained in order to avoid waste. Various suggestions have previously been made to accomplish this such as the use of counters which permit individual filaments to be measured as they are wound. However, these suggestions have necessitated close attention on the part of the operators, requiring manual resetting of the counters in a time-consuming manner. The prior suggested devices do not give a positive indication when a predetermined length has been wound on a package. Furthermore, prior devices do not allow rapid and easy change from one length to another.

It is an object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a new and improved method for indicating filament length in a winding apparatus.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved winding apparatus adapted to indicate when a length of filament has been wound.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved winding apparatus adapted to indicate when a filament being wound is broken.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

Although many of the advantages of this invention are applicable to the winding of single filaments, the greatest or most advantages overall will be found in the application of the invention to multiple spindle winding machines.

According to the present invention, in a multiple spindle winding machine for winding filaments, the Winding machine operating in combination with a common snubber roll over which filaments pass without significant slippage, there is provided a toothed gear which is mounted on and affixed to the shaft which turns the snubber roll. This gear turns at the same rate of revolutions as does the snubber roll. Mounted in operative relation to this gear is a sensing mechanism or signal pickup unit, such as a magnetic pickup head, which, as each tooth of the gear passes by, delivers an electrical impulse to drive a scaling device or totalizing counter which furnishes one output pulse for a given number of input pulses. These output pulses are, in turn, supplied to an amplifier which increases their power sufficiently to operate the desired number of counting units. These counting units, preferably mounted on separate winding panels of a take-up machine on which the desired package roll of filament is being wound are predetermining electrical counters and they substractively count down from their predetermined setting to zero, at which time the counter activates a switch, which supplies current to a warning signal such as an indicator lamp mounted on the winding panel. This signal or indicator lamp informs the operator that the desired length of filament has accumulated on the winding spool.

The counting mechanism is equipped with a switch so that it may readily be deactivated and, furthermore, the circuit is so wired that the counter is stopped and an alarm is sounded should a filament being wound on any particular spindle become broken. This latter control is effectup 3,284,907 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 ice ated by mounting a switch on each winding panel so that no counts will be received by that counter unless a compensator arm is in operation, i.e., the compensator arm is being held up by filament passing around it and going to the winding spindle. Thus, if for any reason the filament leading to any given winding spindle is broken, the compensator arm will fall to its resting position and the totalizing of subtractive counts will be stopped by that particular counter even though the totalizing subtractive counts are being received by all other counters in the assembly. At the same time as the movement of the compensator arm to a resting position activates a switch which stops the counter, it also may activate a switch which in turn activates an alarm such as a bell or signal light calling attention of the operator to the broken filament.

The benefits and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the more detailed description of operation which follows, when taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE I is a simplified schematic representation of snubber rolls and connection of the powered snubber roll to the control mechanisms of this invention;

, ample, three feet.

FIGURE II is a schematic representation of a Winder assembly with counted device and compensator arm and package being wound.

In the operation of this invention, and referring to FIG- URE I, one fiber or filament 1 or a multiplicity of fibers or filaments la; 1b; 1c; and 1d pass (at the end of the production unit) through a set of snubber rolls 2 of which one (3) is powered and the periphery of which is, for ex- Hence, three feet of filament 1 is delivered per revolution ofthe snubber roll 3.

Mounted on and affixed to the shaft 4 turning this large diameter roll 3 is a toothed gear 5 having, for example, teeth. This gear -turns at the same r.p.m. as does the roll 3 and thus, for one rotation of the gear, three feet of fiber are delivered. As this gear S rotates, its teeth pass by a sensing mechanism 6 for example a magnetic pickup head which delivers an output pulse each time a tooth passes by. Hence, for each revolution of the gear 5 100 output pulses are generated by the sensing mechanism 6.

These output pulses `are delivered to an electrical totalizing counter or `scaling device 7 such as a P. M. Co. model 1006. This counter is of a character such that it will furnish one output pulse for -any given or preset number of input pulses, which it receives from the sensing device 6. Thus, if 1000 input pulses are furnished by the gear 5 (equivalent to l0 turns of the snubber roll 3) and if the totalizing counter 7 were preset to 250, four output pulses are furnished by the counter 7.

The output pulses from the totalizing counter 7 are supplied to an amplifier -8 which increases their power sufficiently to operate the desired number of electrical counting units 9. These counting units 9 are predetermining electrical counters, and are mounted, preferably, on separate Winder panels 10 as depicted in FIGURE Il.

Before winding of a package of filament is started, each counting device 9 is adjusted to the same predetermined number. Such adjustment is usually performed by turning a single `set-wheel at the side of the counter. The counter 9 employed, such as Durant Manufacturing Company No. SY-RMF-S, is then set at 02500, for example and for each input pulse received -by the counter the number showing is reduced by one digit, e.g., after ten input pulses the number showing has become 02490.

After 2500 input pulses have fbeen received the counter 9 lactuates an internal switch on the next pulse which, -in turn, actuates `a signal such as a light 11 which indicates that the requisite number of pulses has been received.

It will be obvious that ten turns or revolutions of the snubber roll 3 (equivalent to thirty feet of filament from any single filament end) will produce 1000 pulses to the totalizin-g counter 7. This counter, in turn, produces four low level input pulses to the amplifier 8 and the amplifier 8 furnishes four high level input pulses to the counter 9, thus causing all counters 9 connected to register four less counts than they had previously. Hence, thirty feet of filament is equivalent to a subtractive four counts on the individual counters 9. It will be obvious that by changing the dial setting on the totalizing counter 7 the lratio of filament length to subtractive counts received by the counters 9 may also be changed.

A switch 12 is provided on each winding panel 10 to enable disabling each counter 9 irom receiving electrical signals. Another switch 13, such las la Unimax switch, is mounted on each panel so that no pulses will be received by the counter 9 of that panel unless the compensator arm 14 is in operation, i.e., being held up by filament passing laround it and `going to the winding spindle 15. Thus, if for any reason the filament leading to any given winding spindle is broken, the compensator arm 14 Will fall to a resting position, actuating the switch 13 which disables the counter 9 even though totalizing subtractive counts are being received by all other counters in the assembly. In the case of movement of the compensator arm 14 to a resting position there is also provided, according to one modification of this invention, a further switch 17 which actuates an alarm or light or both to warn the operator that a filament has broken. The switches 13 and 17 can be combined in -a single pole double throw switch, if desired.

When the requisite amount of filament has been wound, the counter 9 actuates a signal lamp 11 which indicates to the operator that the filament package 16 contains the proper length of filament. He then turns ofi the individual counter 9 by use of switch 12, dofs the package 16, replaces a new empty core on the winding spindle 15, resets the counter 9 to the appropriate number, e.g., 02500, and turns the counter 9 back on by switch 12 so that it may once again receive pulses.

Having described the operation of the present invention by reference to the drawings, the following will illustrate its practical application.

Assuming it is desired to wind 21,000 yards of filament on a package and that the circumference of the powered snubber roll is precisely 3 feet, the predetermined counter would be set at 02500. One revolution of the snubber produces one yard Iof filament, Iand one revolution furnishes 100 pulses to the totalizing counter. Thus, 21,000 yards will furnish 2,100,000 pulses to the totalizing counter. However, 2501 pulses are required to make the predetermined counter actuate the dof signal. Thus, 2,100,000

revolutions. With the 3 feet circumference of the snubber roll, this equals 21,008.4 yards which is very close to the desired length of filament package and quite acceptable to the trade.

As is obvious, longer or shorter lengths of product may be obtained by using different preset numbers, or a different number of teeth on the sensing gear, or a different diameter of snubber rol-l without departing from the principles and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a multiple spindle winding machine for winding filaments, the winding machine operating in combination with a common snubber ro-ll over which the filaments pass Without significant slippage, the improvement which comprises a toothed gear mounted on and affixed to the shaft turning said snubber roll, lan electrical sensing mechanism in operative proximity to said gear and adapted to release an output electrical pulse each time a tooth of said gear passes by, an adjustable totalizing counter operatively connected to said sensing mechanism which furnishes one output pulse, for a given number of input pulses from the sensing mechanism, to an amplifier of sufficient magnitude so that the resultant amplified output pulse drives a separate electrical counting device for each strand of filament, each of said electrical counting devices mounted in operative relationship with a winding panel, each said electrical counting device being operatively connected to a switch which is activated by said counting device to, in turn, actuate a signal after reception of a given number of pulses, a compensator arm mounted on each winding panel and adapted to be held -up by filament passing around it from the said snubber roll and passing to a winding spindle, said compensator arm being adapted, upon failure of said filament to hold it up, to move to a .position such that it will actuate a switch which, in turn, is adapted upon such actuation to disable said electrical counting device.

2. In a multiple spindle winding machine for winding filaments, the winding machine operating in combination with a common snubber roll over which the filaments pass w-ithout significant slippage, the improvement which comprises a toothed gear mounted on and afiixed to the shaft turning said snubber roll, an electrical sensing mechanism in operative proximity to said gear and adapted to release an output electrical pulse each time a tooth of said lgear passes by, an adjustable totalizing counter operatively connected to said sensing mechanism which furnishes one output pulse, for a given number of input pulses from the sensing mechanism, toan amplifier of sufficient magnitude so that the resultant amplilied output pulse drives a separate electrical counting device for each strand of filament, each of said electrical counting devices mounted in operative relationship with -a winding panel, each said electrical counting device being operatively connected to a switch which is activated by said counting device to, in turn, actuate a signal after reception of a given number of pulses, -a compensator arm mounted on each winding panel and adapted to be held up by filament passing around it from the said snubber roll and passing to a Winding spindle, said compensator arm being adapted, upon failure of said filament to hold it up, to move to a position such that it will actuate a switch which, in turn, is adapted upon such actuation to disable said electrical counting device, and to -actuate lan alarm signal.

No references cited.

LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner. 

2. IN A MULTIPLE SPINDLE WINDING MACHINE FOR WINDING FILAMENTS, THE WINDING MACHINE OPERATING IN COMBINATION WITH A COMMON SNUBBER ROLL OVER WHICH THE FILAMENTS PASS WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT SLIPPAGE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A TOOTHED GEAR MOUNTED ON AND AFFIXED TO THE SHAFT TURNING SAID SNUBBER ROLL, AN ELECTRICAL SENSING MECHANISM IN OPERATIVE PROXIMITY TO SAID GEAR AND ADAPTED TO RELEASE AN OUTPUT ELECTRICAL PULSE EACH TIME A TOOTH OF SAID GEAR PASSES BY, AN ADJUSTABLE TOTALIZING COUNTER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SENSING MECHANISM WHICH FURNISHES ONE OUTPUT PULSE, FOR A GIVEN NUMBER OF INPUT PULSES FROM THE SENSING MECHANISM, TO AN AMPLIFIER OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE SO THAT THE RESULTANT AMPLIFIED OUTPUT PULSE DRIVES A SEPARATE ELECTRICAL COUNTING DEVICE FOR EACH STRAND OF FILAMENT, EACH OF SAID ELECTRICAL 